By staff reports —
CLEARLAKE — A man who allegedly provided false identity information to police was arrested on a number of charges including vehicle theft and may be linked to more vehicle and vessel thefts, according to the Clearlake Police Department (CPD).
On Wednesday at about 3:15 p.m. CPD Officer Winslow conducted a traffic stop on a 1970 Ford Mach 1 Mustang for minor traffic violations on Highway 53 near the intersection of 18th Avenue.
The driver of the car provided investigating officers with a false name and claimed to have no identification with him. He was later identified as Louis Carlson, 37, of Clearlake.
The name Carlson officers showed to have a suspended driver”s license. Officers arrested him for the suspended driver”s license and for not having identification.
Carlson then ran when he learned he was going to be arrested. Following a foot chase CPD Officer Adams arrested Carlson at the dead end of 20th Avenue near Highway 53. It was then that officers identified the suspect as Carlson, who also had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest.
Officers decided to tow Carlson”s vehicle and requested a tow truck. Prior to the tow, the Mustang was determined to be a stolen car out of Clearlake and Carlson had begun the process of putting the vehicle into his name through the DMV. The Mustang was returned to its owner.
Carlson was charged with several crimes including felony warrants, obstructing, resisting a peace officer, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, false identification to officer, false information to officer and committing a felony crime while out on bail for a felony crime. He was later booked into the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.
On Monday CPD officers located several abandoned stolen vessels and vehicles in the 16800 block of 19th Avenue. Most of the vehicles and vessels were reported to the California Highway Patrol as stolen in the unincorporated areas of Lake County in August. Evidence was obtained at the scene linking Carlson to the thefts. Clearlake Police are investigating these vehicle and vessel thefts. Anyone with information about vehicle and vessel thefts should contact Clearlake Police Officer Thompson at 994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.
